numnah/saddlecloth or no numnah?bit confused!

[karenjj]

Hiya,

I had a saddle fitted to my new forest mare yesterday and the saddle fitter said she doesn't need a numnah or saddlecloth at all. I am a bit confused by this and feel a bit strange putting her saddle on with nothing underneath! Does anyone have any ideas on this, would you still use a thin saddlecloth? Why do some horses have big sheepskin ones it can't surely be because their saddles don't fit as the saddle fitter implied? Any input would be appreciated! Thanks

 

[TiaPony]

Some people use a sheepskin to help the fit of their saddle or they have had their saddle fitted to incorporate the thick pads.

Putting a thin saddlecloth under your saddle won't alter the fit and will keep the underside of your saddle clean so I would go ahead and use one!

 

[AmyMay]

What she said.

 

[CBAnglo]

the saddle should be fited without a numnah and then only use a thin numnah when riding. the nuumed ones are good.

I fit some horses with a sheepskin for various reasons, but mostly when they have a small degree of muscle wastage and therefore I need to fit the saddle slightly wider to allow the muscle to develop - once it has the owner then reverts to a thin numnah unless the horse needs to be ridden with a sheepskin indefinitely. Same with a prolite, although I always fit close contact jump saddles with a prolite. If your horse doesnt need either I would go with a thin numnah, especially if the panels are serge as the sweat goes through to the wool and can cause lumps.